Does Resident Involvement Affect Clinical Outcomes and Postoperative Complication Rates in Orthopaedic Sports...

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
• Surgical Education
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the impact of resident and fellow involvement on complication rates, surgical duration, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and rotator cuff repair (RCR).

Main Methods:

• A cohort study analyzed 3997 primary ACLR and RCR cases (2014-2022) with a minimum 2-year follow-up.
• Outcomes included operative time, 100-day postoperative complications, and various patient-reported outcome measures.
• Statistical analyses compared outcomes with and without trainee (resident/fellow) involvement.

Main Results:

• Postoperative complication rates were similar regardless of trainee involvement (ACLR: 4.6%, RCR: 3.6%).
• Operative times were significantly longer when trainees were involved in both ACLR and RCR procedures.
• No significant differences in patient-reported outcomes were observed at the 2-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Trainee participation in ACLR and RCR is safe, with no increased risk of complications or worsened patient-reported outcomes.
• Despite longer operative times, the involvement of residents and fellows in sports medicine surgeries supports their educational benefit without compromising patient safety.